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TODDCAST EPISODE 58: SHOW NOTES: Outline for this week’s episode:

WINE WORD OF THE DAY
From Wikipedia:The Johnstown Flood (or Great Flood of 1889 as it became known locally) occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failureof the South Fork Dam situated on the Little Conemaugh River 14 miles (23 km) upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall. The dam's failure unleashed a torrent of 20 million tons of water (4.8 billion U.S. gallons; 18.2 million cubic meters; 18.2 billion litres) from the reservoir known as Lake Conemaugh. With a volumetric flow rate that temporarily equalled that of the Mississippi River,[1] the flood killed 2,209 people[2] and caused US$17 million of damage (the equivalent of about $425 million in 2012 dollars).

It was the first major disaster relief effort handled by the new American Red Cross, led by Clara Barton. Support for victims came from all over theUnited States and 18 foreign countries. After the flood, survivors suffered a series of legal defeats in their attempts to recover damages from the dam's owners. Public indignation at that failure prompted the development in American law changing a fault-based regime to strict liability.

The total death toll was 2,209, making the disaster the largest loss of civilian life in the United States at the time. It was later surpassed by fatalities in the 1900 Galveston hurricane and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Some historians believe the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane and 1906 San Francisco earthquake killed more people in the U.S. than did the Johnstown Flood, but the official death toll was lower.

In the years following the disaster, some people blamed the members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club for their modifications to the dam and failure to maintain it properly. The club had bought and redesigned the dam to turn the area into a vacation retreat in the mountains. They were accused of failing to maintain the dam properly, so that it was unable to contain the additional water of the unusually heavy rainfall.

Survivors were unable to recover damages in court because of the club's lack of resources. First, the wealthy club owners had designed the club's financial structure to keep their personal assets separated from it and, secondly, it was difficult for any suit to prove that any particular owner had behaved negligently

 

WINE WORDS OF THE DAY:  Johnstown Flood Alcohol Tax

From facebook

The Johnstown Flood Tax is an 18% tax on all wine and liquor sales in the state of Pennsylvania. It is a "hidden" tax that is not printed on any receipt of purchase.

The board was founded at the end of Prohibition to, as Gov. Gifford Pinchot declared, "discourage the purchase of alcoholic beverages by making it as inconvenient and expensive as possible," a promise we can agree it has made good on to this day.

http://articles.philly.com/2013-02-28/news/37333002_1_johnstown-flood-tax-lcb-liquor-control-board

What is the Johnstown Flood Tax?

The Johnstown Flood Tax is an 18% tax on all wine and liquor sales in the state of Pennsylvania. It is a "hidden" tax that is not printed on any receipt of purchase.

How did it come about?

As a result of the damage from the 1936 Johnstown, PA flood, the Pennsylvania General Assembly imposed an emergency tax on all alcohol sold in the Commonwealth. The "temporary" 10% tax was initially intended to help pay for clean up, recovery, and assistance to flood victims. Though the recovery was assisted by the federal government and completed within six years of the disaster, the tax was never repealed. The tax was raised to 15% in 1963 and to 18% in 1968, where it stands today.

Where does the tax revenue go?

The $200+ million collected annually no longer goes to flood victims. Instead, it goes into the general fund for discretionary use by lawmakers.

 

TASTING ROOMORS (Happenings in the Tasting Room)

ANNIVERSARIES  

Catherine Dinan   6 yrs

Kevin Elliott   5 yrs

Marsha Goldfine  7 yrs

Christy Granieri  5 yr

Al & Jan La Joice   4 yrs

Tina Masiak  6 yrs

Gary Osgood  6 yrs

David Reed   4 yrs

David N. Rios  and David A. Rios  4 yrs

Marian Willingham   6 yrs

Casey Zaragoza  4 yrs

 

BIRTHDAYS

Steve Frediani

Nicole Jones

 

- Best Cribbage board in the whole world! Thanks Curtis and Heather!

- New Pacific Coast Wine Trail website is up.

- Club time!

 

BOOZE NEWS & VIEWS  

Don’t drink in New Jersey.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/05/operation-swill-reveals-indecent-acts-alcohol/65553/

Napa Thieves Strike

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/vineyard-equipment-reported-stolen/article_69ff7cd2-c313-11e2-82ac-0019bb2963f4.html

Sideways on the Great White Way

http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/583917/sideways-author-sets-sights-on-broadway-as-chances-of-film-sequel-diminish

Drink up kids.

http://blog.wblakegray.com/2013/05/teaching-kids-to-drink.html

Your liver is failing, but your kidneys are fine.

http://www.wineindustryinsight.com/ex_nf.php?url=http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/15826/20130522/sugary-drinks-increase-kidney-stone-risk-coffee.htm

HAMMERED HOROSCOPES

May 31 – Gemini

Everyone knows Geminis are talkers but once you start on your third glass of wine, your friends are  stuffing their ears with Chex-Mix.  Fortunately, you’re loveable. Let the party get ripping before you start sipping.  Then you stand a good chance of being the life of the party and not sucking the life out of it. Finally, use your gift of gab to talk the host out of opening his only bottle of Sauternes.

ASK GRAPE STOMPER TODD

What is this I hear about nutrition information being put on wine bottles?

Washington, DC — On May 28, 2013, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a ruling (Ruling 2013-2) that allows alcohol beverage industry members to provide consumers with nutritional information about their products and provides guidelines to ensure that the information is presented in a consistent and non-misleading manner.

The Federal Alcohol Administration Act provides for regulation of the labeling and advertising of distilled spirits, wine, and malt beverages to prevent consumer deception, to provide consumers with adequate information as to the identity and quality of the product, and to prohibit false or misleading statements.

The ruling allows "Serving Facts" statements that include the serving size, the number of servings per container, the number of calories, and the number of grams of 

carbohydrates, protein, and fat per serving. Additionally, Serving Facts statements may include information about the alcohol content of the product as a percentage of alcohol by volume and may also include a statement of the fluid ounces of pure ethyl alcohol per serving.

Industry members will not need to apply for new label approval to add a Serving Facts statement if it conforms to the examples contained in the ruling.

TTB is providing this interim guidance on the use of optional Serving Facts statements on labels and in advertisements pending the completion of rulemaking on this matter.

CREDITS

Voice Over Talent – Andrew Dawson (Andrew’s YouTube Channel)

Song Vocals – Ellen & Andrew Dawson

Utter Nonsense – Jill and Todd

 

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